CBA-SW Journal No.22 - Excavations at Boden Vean, Manaccan, Cornwall, 2008 - James Gossip.
CBA-SW Journal No.22 - Excavations at Boden Vean, Manaccan, Cornwall, 2008 - James Gossip.
CBA-SW Journal No.22 - Excavations at Boden Vean, Manaccan, Cornwall, 2008 - James Gossip.
Introduction
Archaeological excavation in a field close to Boden Vean, just south of Manaccan on the
Lizard Peninsula took place over five weekends during September and October 2008. The
site was chosen as a result of work carried out in 2003 when a team from the Historic
Environment Service, Cornwall County Council carried out a programme of archaeological
recording as part of an evaluation of an Iron Age enclosure and fogou. This original work
was funded by English Heritage and came about because of events that began in 1991
when pipe-laying by the landowner led to the discovery of a shaft containing Romano-British
pottery and to the rediscovery of a fogou (subterranean passage) which had been
documented in this area since the early nineteenth century (recorded by Rev Richard
Polwhele, vicar of Manaccan in 1816).
The objectives of the excavation of 2008 were to recover more of this pot, possibly to enable
reconstruction and display at the Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro, and to help understand the
practices and extent of ritual deposition within the abandonment phases of Bronze Age
domestic structures. It was also hoped that the excavation would provide Cornwall
Archaeological Society members with an opportunity to gain extensive fieldwork experience,
whether they were novices or seasoned excavators.
The excavation
A square trench was opened up by machine targeting the somewhat amorphous geophysical
anomaly evaluated in 2003. A JCB was supplied by the landowner, Chris Hosken, and hand
cleaning proceeded with members of Cornwall Archaeological Society (CAS). The circular
Journal 22.
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Journal 22.
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shape of a sunken-featured Bronze Age roundhouse slowly emerged and divided into
‘boxes’ within which two or three participants could work at a time.
The excavation was very well publicised, with local press and television present on more
than one occasion. (Figure 14-2) Five local schools visited the site and given a site tour and
a talk on the history of the site as well as a chance to look at the finds with Anna Tyacke,
Portable Antiquities Scheme. A public open day was also well attended, despite horrendous
weather.
Artefact processing and conservation will take place at the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro,
again with the help of CAS volunteers. At the time of writing the post-excavation process is
yet to begin and interpretation is therefore at a very early stage. The following summary is
based on tentative interpretation of the data and likely to change during analysis of the
stratigraphy and artefacts.
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Journal 22.
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A number of postholes were identified around the perimeter of the cut, cutting the charcoal
rich layer, one of which contained two fired clay perforated weights and another a well-
preserved copper alloy knife. It is possible that these objects were placed in the postholes
after the posts had been removed, but this interpretation awaits further stratigraphical
analysis. A hearth was found in the centre of the structure comprising a bowl-shaped pit with
a burnt lining and filled with heat fractured stone, also suggestive of a deliberate
‘decommissioning’ of the roundhouse on abandonment.
Iron Age
Close to the south eastern edge of the Bronze Age roundhouse was a steep-sided ditch cut
through natural bedrock, aligned north-south. The excavated cut was seen to curve towards
the east and matched the geophysical survey showing a rectilinear enclosure ditch - the
exposed section marking the beginning of the north-western corner of the enclosure. The
ditch was excavated in 2003 during the evaluation which showed that silting or backfilling of
the ditch was fairly advanced by circa 400 BC. Although it is yet to undergo analysis, initial
impressions of material recovered from the ditch fills suggest pottery of a similar date.
Within the roundhouse itself sherds of Early Iron Age date similar to that recovered in 2003
were found in the upper fills of the Bronze Age roundhouse hollow. Discrete intrusive
features were not identified however and it is possible that this area was used by the Early
Iron Age community as some form of midden.
Summary
The excavation has exceeded expectations by revealing a very well-preserved structure
containing a far greater number of high quality artefacts that was initially envisaged. It is
hoped that post-excavation analysis will be successful in answering some of the original
questions raised by the evaluation; it is certain to add to the knowledge and understanding
of the notion of ritual abandonment practices in the Cornish Bronze Age. Closer definition of
the site chronology may help formulate ideas on the use of the roundhouse site over time
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Journal 22.
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and its possible relevance to an Iron Age community occupying the adjacent site almost a
thousand years after its primary use.
One of the main successes of the excavation was its achievement in providing Cornwall
Archaeological Society members with the chance to gain first hand experience of excavation
and at the same time to contribute significantly to the study of Cornwall’s past. It is hoped
that the same level of enthusiasm and involvement will be maintained throughout the post-
excavation process.
The excavation and post-excavation analysis is funded by Cornwall Archaeological Society
with the help of the Meneage Archaeology Group and Royal Cornwall Museum.
JG
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